Community Reviews

This book was made more enjoyable by my having recently finished Robert Klitgaard's Tropical Gangsters, which is a book about World Bank/IMF development activities in Equitorial Guinea nearly 20 years before the activities described in The Wonga Coup. I'm not sure if I would have given this one three stars had I not already had an interest in finding out where the country had ended up after the difficulties I read about in Klitgaard's book.

Certainly don't read The Wonga Coup if you have a thirstThis book was made more enjoyable by my having recently finished Robert Klitgaard's Tropical Gangsters, which is a book about World Bank/IMF development activities in Equitorial Guinea nearly 20 years before the activities described in The Wonga Coup. I'm not sure if I would have given this one three stars had I not already had an interest in finding out where the country had ended up after the difficulties I read about in Klitgaard's book.

Certainly don't read The Wonga Coup if you have a thirst for the more swashbuckling aspects of coup plotters (and/or coup executors). It just doesn't read that way. This is more about financial transactions, materials acquisition, and careless, drunken talk in restaurants and bars.

Nonetheless, The Wonga Coup was interesting enough reading for a long flight. I'd never been exposed to the coup-plotting machinations of European adventurers in modern Africa, so the book was in that sense a view into a world I didn't know existed. I suppose there's some useful information in there if you ever want to plot your own African coup, though I think Adam Roberts, the author, would probably discourage the book's use as a guide or manual (and perhaps recommend others instead).

It is amazing what white men think they can still get away with in modern Africa. Only African heads of state can act with the sort of complete impunity that Simon Mann tried to get away with in his attempt to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea.

So far, I've read up until Chapter 15 and I won't recommend it to anyone for a combination of part or all of the reasons below.

1. Unsubstantiated Claims. The author makes tons of outlandish claims but they're never substantiated. For example, In chapter 8 he claims the existence of contracts between the coup plotters and Mr Moto yet he never presents copies of these contracts in his "primary documents." How do we know the alledged contracts exist(ed)?

2. Sources. What are his sources? Where are hSo far, I've read up until Chapter 15 and I won't recommend it to anyone for a combination of part or all of the reasons below.

1. Unsubstantiated Claims. The author makes tons of outlandish claims but they're never substantiated. For example, In chapter 8 he claims the existence of contracts between the coup plotters and Mr Moto yet he never presents copies of these contracts in his "primary documents." How do we know the alledged contracts exist(ed)?

2. Sources. What are his sources? Where are his footnotes? How can we check his sources?Even autobiographies (First hand accounts) provide more sources and footnotes.

3. The writer and his subject. One who isn't careful might read the book thinking the author was a party to the events he's describing. Other parts of the book read like a bad gossip column about the adventures of mercenaries in tropical Africa intended for an audience hungry for stories about adventures in Africa.

Why people read it and think it is well researched is beyond my (mis)understanding. The Sunday Times (UK) writes that The Wonga Coup is "Riveting and Superbly researched" And adds, "A brilliant, mordant, blackly comic read."I'm amazed at the Sunday Times (UK) this is the kind of work they qualify "Riveting and superbly researched." Maybe words stopped having meaning but this level of researched won't get anyone pass Graduate School, maybe not even in Equatorial Guinea.

4. Africa seen by the World. In the final anaylysis, this book is anything but serious work let alone "superbly researched." It is one in a long list presenting exaggerated stories about Africa without feeling the need for substantiation. This because to many out there, Africa is still the "Dark Continent" where stories about the surreal and fantastic still enchant the imagination of many at the expense of Reality and History. How else explain the author echoing innuendos about Mr. Obiang Nguema eating testicles of political opponents supposedly to remain in power.

But then again, Africa is the victim of different sorts of mercenaries; the white collar ones at the head of companies, the blue-collar-gun-toting ones and last but not the least, the pen-toting ones under the disguise of journalists, writers or pseudo-intellectuals....more

Frederick Forsyth's The Dogs of War details an attempt to overthrow the government of a small African country — in the book called Zangaro, but well known to be Equatorial Guinea. And when I say “details”, I mean sets out in painstaking detail just how exactly such a thing could happen. And when I say “could happen”, I mean has been attempted. Twice.

The first time was the attempted coup in 1973 that mirrored the book in almost every way — other than in its failure — and of which Forsyth himselfFrederick Forsyth's The Dogs of War details an attempt to overthrow the government of a small African country — in the book called Zangaro, but well known to be Equatorial Guinea. And when I say “details”, I mean sets out in painstaking detail just how exactly such a thing could happen. And when I say “could happen”, I mean has been attempted. Twice.

The first time was the attempted coup in 1973 that mirrored the book in almost every way — other than in its failure — and of which Forsyth himself was almost certainly both the lead funder, and strategic mastermind. At the time the country was very poor and very repressive, and their goal was to replace its deranged dictator with the Biafran leader, Ojukwu.

By the second attempt, in 2004, the country’s fortunes had improved significantly, having discovered substantial quantities of oil. It had grown to become the third largest oil producer in Africa, enabling it to have held the position of the world's fastest growing economy for a decade. But it was still very repressive, the previous deranged dictator having been replaced by another, just as deranged (with a reputation for eating the testicles and brains of his erstwhile political opponents), and much of the country’s incoming money was swiftly finding its way straight back out again into his overseas bank-accounts, leaving the country’s citizens still amongst the poorest in the world.

This time the plot was led by Simon Mann, previously a British SAS officer, who had operated a multi-million-dollar mercenary operation across multiple African countries during the 1990s. Assisting him in at least some way (the exact details are still disputed) was Mark Thatcher, son of former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. This, along with the involvement of a "J. H. Archer", generally taken to be disgraced British politician (and best selling author, including of a story called The Coup) Jeffrey Archer, helped ensure that of the ten attempted coups worldwide in 2004, this was the one that kept everyone’s attention.

Luckily for the author of this book, it’s also the one with the most supporting documentation, including not just contracts between many of the significant figures, but also lots of the plans for what to do after the coup — the group wisely noting that gaining power might be hard enough, but keeping it would be harder still, as the 2003 “successful" coup in São Tomé, that had lasted barely a week, had shown.

Unluckily for us, however, the author of this book seems to have been the wrong person to tie it all together for us. There’s a fascinating story here, but it’s buried in a massive chronological info-dump with virtually no sense of narrative or plotting. The epilogue and postscript start to raise some interesting questions about the mismanagement of resource-rich countries, and the role of mercenaries throughout Africa, and even sets this coup up as an explicit counter-argument to Paul Collier's suggestion (in The Bottom Billion) that dictators should sometimes be removed forcibly. Robert’s argument here that coups are never a good idea is somewhat odd, as he expresses dismay several times during the book that the 1973 “Forsyth” coup had failed. But either way, this end-of-book philosophising comes too little, too late to salvage what should really have been a much more interesting tale....more

The Wonga Coup: Guns, Thugs and a Ruthless Determination to Create Mayhem in an Oil-Rich Corner of Africa had me hooked straight from the title. Seriously, guns, thugs, and ruthless determination? I’m usually satisfied if a book provides me with just one, but all three? Seriously though, this story has all the intrigue and mysterious men of adventure of a Frederick Forsyth novel, only this one is true. The story follows Simon Mann, an Eton educated and SAS trained British aristocrat member of thThe Wonga Coup: Guns, Thugs and a Ruthless Determination to Create Mayhem in an Oil-Rich Corner of Africa had me hooked straight from the title. Seriously, guns, thugs, and ruthless determination? I’m usually satisfied if a book provides me with just one, but all three? Seriously though, this story has all the intrigue and mysterious men of adventure of a Frederick Forsyth novel, only this one is true. The story follows Simon Mann, an Eton educated and SAS trained British aristocrat member of the South African expat community turned soldier of fortune, and his 2004 plot to overthrow Obiang Nguema, the President of Equatorial Guinea.

The story is fascinating and Adam Roberts, the author and a correspondent for the Economist, does a remarkable job weaving together disparate strands, from the conditions within Equatorial Guinea to Mann’s past as a solider for hire in Angola to his assembling of a professional army to the wide group of companies and individuals who were exposed as financiers of this operation. It also goes into the past of Equatorial Guinea and explains that Mann’s was not the first attempt on this tiny country’s government. Frederick Forsyth himself, of Night of the Jackal fame, also funded and planned a coup that, when it failed, was the inspiration for his book The Dogs of War.*

Roberts tells a tight yarn but occasionally zooms in too far, losing the momentum of the plot in the minutiae of its moving parts. It also feels as though each chapter was written as a stand-alone article with at least a couple paragraphs re-canvassing territory that had already been well trodden previously in the book. However, with the panoply of characters, any one of which could be the star of his own book, that Roberts has to sort through, he can be forgiven for doubling back occasionally.

The Wonga Coup gives a crackling and insightful look into a forgotten corner of the world that, while successfully escaping colonialism, is still suffering from the covetous and grandiose ambitions of foreigners.

*If 13 year old me knew that one of the books that had inspired daydreams of being a corrupt-government toppling superspy was based on a true, if failed, story, I can’t promise that I would have run off and tried to lIve a James Bond origin story, but the odds would have skyrocketed.

I read this after it was a choice with my African book group and I missed the discussion, but wanted to read the book. It's a very well researched book about a group who attempted a coup in Equatorial Guinea in 2004. I ended up skimming parts of it as there were a lot of details that bogged down the reading. I would recommend it for anyone particularly interested in EG or anyone planning a coup in an African country. It's kind of sobering what the perpetrators faced after getting caught and I woI read this after it was a choice with my African book group and I missed the discussion, but wanted to read the book. It's a very well researched book about a group who attempted a coup in Equatorial Guinea in 2004. I ended up skimming parts of it as there were a lot of details that bogged down the reading. I would recommend it for anyone particularly interested in EG or anyone planning a coup in an African country. It's kind of sobering what the perpetrators faced after getting caught and I would think it would make anyone think twice about trying this. I wonder if the people of EG would have been better off if the coup had been successful -- they've had such corrupt leadership and have suffered as a result. But Mann and others planning the coup didn't have the EG citizens' well being at heart -- they wanted to enrich themselves with the oil money, so it would likely have been another case of African leaders robbing the citizens of proceeds from the country's natural resources....more

Interesting to the point that you cannot put it down. So many characters of interest and a hair-brained scheme to take over a country that was destined to fail before it even started. Its both funny, sad, and amazing!

It's good, especially if you're interested in energy politics, or, even better, if you have a secret fascination with mercenaries. The actual story is riveting, and Roberts has clearly exhaustively researched everything. Also provides an interesting look at modern African politics.

On the other hand, it's too long by half, it really drags in parts, and there are way too many people to keep track of, especially if you read it slowly like I did.

For international relations types like myself, I'd recIt's good, especially if you're interested in energy politics, or, even better, if you have a secret fascination with mercenaries. The actual story is riveting, and Roberts has clearly exhaustively researched everything. Also provides an interesting look at modern African politics.

On the other hand, it's too long by half, it really drags in parts, and there are way too many people to keep track of, especially if you read it slowly like I did.

For international relations types like myself, I'd recommend that you check it out. For others, maybe not so much....more

Fun and revealing story about how mercenaries tried to stage a coup in a tiny African country in 2003. Apparently this is a regular thing that happens in Africa.

The writing got a little bogged down and expository in the middle of the book. I was hoping for more action but instead I got page after page of "this guy said this, the other guy said that" stuff. Stil, overall the book was fun.

Also I learned that Margaret Thatcher's son is an a-hole, and he was involved in financing the coup. RidiculouFun and revealing story about how mercenaries tried to stage a coup in a tiny African country in 2003. Apparently this is a regular thing that happens in Africa.

The writing got a little bogged down and expository in the middle of the book. I was hoping for more action but instead I got page after page of "this guy said this, the other guy said that" stuff. Stil, overall the book was fun.

Also I learned that Margaret Thatcher's son is an a-hole, and he was involved in financing the coup. Ridiculous....more

I loved this meticulously researched book by The Economist's man in Africa about the attempt by a group of mercenary adventurers to stage a coup in Equatorial Guinea. Along the way the story touches on Mark Thatcher, Margaret's son, and the novelist Jeffrey Archer (maybe). It's a fascinating story, well told, and infuriating when one considers both the politics involved and the overriding problems of Africa because of exactly the type of post-colonial economic neo-colonialism and corruption descI loved this meticulously researched book by The Economist's man in Africa about the attempt by a group of mercenary adventurers to stage a coup in Equatorial Guinea. Along the way the story touches on Mark Thatcher, Margaret's son, and the novelist Jeffrey Archer (maybe). It's a fascinating story, well told, and infuriating when one considers both the politics involved and the overriding problems of Africa because of exactly the type of post-colonial economic neo-colonialism and corruption described in this book....more

A book that shines a light on the supposed attempt by the British Government(allegedly including both Mark Thatcher and Jeffrey Archer) to replace the government of Equatorial Guinea with one of its own choosing.

It left me feeling stunned by the arrogance of the people (allegedly) involved and their apparent belief that they could actually pull it off.

Recommended reading for anyone with the misguided belief that international affairs is cleaning up its act.

I vaguely remember news stories about this when it happened, mainly because Margaret Thatcher's son was involved.

It is the story of a failed military coup in Equitorial Guinea (a tiny African nation I knew NOTHING about) by a group of mercenaries. The idea was throw over the dictator (who was a greedy cruel man - but they were not in it for humanitarian reasons) and take control of the oil.

The attempt failed mostly because too many people were talking too much all over the place.

Equatorial Guinea is fascinating. Corruption, piles of skulls, cannibalism, state sanctioned rape and torture, etc. all supported by oil money. I would support this coup attempt if they had been doing it with any purpose other than the money. But that's all they were after. I find it disgusting that the rich, spoiled, momma's boys that concocted this plan were let out of jail before their paid help.

Aside from the somewhat disjointed nature of the telling, it is always interesting for me to learn about other countries, and to do it in a multi-textural way.

One thing, Equatorial Guinea is a very scary place!! The enabled abuse of power and the torture of the people introduced in the book gives just a quick wink at the levels of barbarity so many people world-wide experience.

I was intrigued by the fact that British/international mercenaries constructed a coup to be carried out in a small African country within this decade, and it was interesting to get a window into the world of the mercenaries, but I think I would have been equally satisfied by a long article. It read almost like a court brief more than a popular book - could have used some editing.

Pretty good, although for some reason, and not just this author specifically, journalists always feel the need to recap who everyone is and what their role is every time they get mentioned in a new chapter. I'm not sure if the book is based off several independent reports he filed or what, but it seems a little hand holdy and condescending, not too mention pads the book out.

a very interesting story, but so badly written. this reads like a first draft sorely in need of editing. i read about half, and since the author tells you clearly what is going to happen, the rest reads like a laundry list of the equipment they used and what they did with it. it did pique my interest in reading frederick forsyth though.

This was a fairly entertaining book about a coup that occurred in equatorial guinea. It was a bit "pop journalism" for my tastes, but overall I think the story was told well and it hit on a few interesting things I didn't know about. I'd say overall about 3.5/5.

Crazy! Africa has some messed up stuff going on. This happened in 2004 and I don't even remember hearing anything about this in the news or anything. My company has actually done some work in Equatorial Guinea, where this took place, so it hits home a little bit.

I thought this book did an excellent job of tying an exciting story of mercenaries and international intrigue together with the story of the resource curse many LDC's face today. Also it raises important issues about the privatization of military force.

Interesting background on a strange plot but the author draws unconvincing conclusions about transitions, governance, the resource curse, and other major challenges in Africa. A fun read but less educational than it aims to be.

Adam Roberts (born 1965) is an academic, critic and novelist. He also writes parodies under the pseudonyms of A.R.R.R. Roberts, A3R Roberts and Don Brine. He also blogs at The Valve, a group blog devoted to literature and cultural studies.

Adam Roberts (born 1965) is an academic, critic and novelist. He also writes parodies under the pseudonyms of A.R.R.R. Roberts, A3R Roberts and Don Brine. He also blogs at The Valve, a group blog devoted to literature and cultural studies.

He has a degree in English from the University of Aberdeen and a PhD from Cambridge University on Robert Browning and the Classics. He teaches English literature and creative writing at Royal Holloway, University of London. Adam Roberts has been nominated twice for the Arthur C. Clarke Award: in 2001, for his debut novel, Salt, and in 2007, for Gradisil....more